Kassiopeya, the origin of the brand?

The Kassiopeya Logo

The Kassiopeya Brand: Kassiopeya is a German company that is listed on several websites as the manufacturer of fetish footwear, though I’m not sure where the boots are actually made. Their most famous model is Alexandra Potter.

Could the brand name come from classical mythology?: In classical mythology Cassiopea (Kassiepeia) was the wife of Cepheus King of Joppa in Palestine, who boasted that her daughter, Andromeda, was fairer than the Nereids. They however complained to Poseidon who sent a serpent to ravage the country. The oracle of Zeus Ammon in Libya declared that Andromeda herself must be offered up to the serpent. She was chained to a rock and as the serpent approached Perseus flew by with the head of the Gorgon Medusa in his bag.  He saw what was about to happen and went to Cepheus asking for Andromeda’s hand in marriage. Cepheus agreed and as the serpent was already approaching Perseus displayed the Gorgon’s head to the serpent and it turned to stone. … Later Perseus became King of the Argold. There he and Cassiopeia had a number of children. They remained together until their deaths. Then Andromeda together with her husband, parents and the serpent were placed by Athena in the heavens as constellations; Cassiopea, however, for her sin was laid on her back with her feet in the air.  [Pp. 31-32 Who’s Who in Classical Mythology, Grant & Hazel Oxford University Press 1993.]

You have to wonder if the person(s) who named the company Kassiopeya did so because ballet boot models are so often posed on their backs with their feet in the air.

The inadequate commercial ballet boot toe-box: Some members of the ballet boot community have long complained about:

·       The heels being too long on some maker’s boots cause the wearer to pitch forward making the boots more difficult to walk in than the otherwise would be.

·       The heels aren’t sturdily enough attached to the boot to prevent them from easily breaking off.

·       When weight is placed on the toe-box while standing or walking in them the toe-box begins to collapse.

There are well known DIY fixes for too long heels and heels that detach from the boot. However, there is no owner correction for the toe-box collapsing if the wearer wants to stand or walk in them. Most makers post a disclaimer to the effect that their boots are not made to be walked in etc. And there is a school of thought that contends some makers intentionally make their heels too long to discourage wearers from attempting to walk in them and accelerate crushing the toe-boxes. Even so, there seems to be a vocal portion of the community who wants to do just that and ruin their boots in the process. From the maker’s perspective it’s good business to make a product that breaks as long as no other maker in their price range is making a better boot, thus ensuring return buyers when the current pair is no longer functional.

Fortunately, there a few private bookmakers, like Gepetto, who provide custom boots for the few of us who can afford them. Boots from these makers will last a very long time and can be sent back periodically for refurbishing.